Jun 16, 2025Introducing the 2025 Most Valuable Athletic Trainers of the Year
In athletic training, excellence is the standard. Training & Conditioning magazine’s annual Most Valuable Athletic Trainers of the Year award epitomizes this pursuit of distinction. This prestigious accolade recognizes the unparalleled dedication, innovation, and impact of athletic trainers who go above and beyond in their commitment to athlete care and professional development.
Celebrating these trailblazers not only highlights their exceptional contributions but also inspires the entire community to strive for higher standards of excellence in the field.
This year’s winners represent the high school, college/university, and non-traditional settings as we continue to grow the award and recognize industry leaders across multiple environments within the athletic training landscape.
Below, we highlight the three winners — Brian Haas, Jessie Fong, and Greg Banks — and share what they’ve accomplished in their respective fields.
Steady and Selfless: Brian Haas Named Most Valuable High School Athletic Trainer
At Kearney High School in Nebraska, Brian Haas is much more than an athletic trainer. Over 18 years, he’s become a trusted mentor, a medical leader, an educator, and one of the most respected figures on campus. For his unwavering dedication to athlete care, mentorship, and the advancement of the profession, Haas has been named Training & Conditioning magazine’s Most Valuable High School Athletic Trainer of the Year.
“I try to take care of our athletes, the coaches, the parents — everyone involved,” said Haas. “I’m here to help, and I’ve always just tried to be consistent.”
That consistency is exactly what his colleagues and students appreciate most. As the head athletic trainer and a physical education teacher at one of Nebraska’s largest Class A schools, Haas supports more than 20 sports programs and countless student-athletes at every level.
“Brian has gained the respect of the coaches and student-athletes of KHS through his genuine care for others and professional approach to athletic training,” wrote Bryan Roeder, Kearney’s physical education teacher. “Whether treating an athlete during competition as an injury occurs or providing care in the training room afterward, players, coaches, and parents trust him to give a clear and safe path to recovery.”
That trust is echoed by head coaches across the school. “Brian Haas goes above and beyond when it comes to caring for our student-athletes,” said Scott Steinbrook, head boys soccer coach. “The way he educates athletes and parents about recovery and injury prevention, and communicates all needs to stakeholders, makes him one of, if not the best, athletic trainers in the state of Nebraska.”
Haas’s work ethic and dependability are matched by his willingness to go the extra mile — often literally. “Regardless of where Brian is or what he’s doing, he’s always just a phone call away,” Roeder wrote. “He’s also up at the high school every Saturday, putting in extra hours to help athletes get in the best position to compete.”
For Haas, it’s never been about recognition, but rather about doing the job right. “I don’t think I’m doing anything different than other athletic trainers,” he said. “But I do take pride in doing the job well and being there when people need me.”
He’s also shaping the future of the profession. For the past decade, he has served as a clinical preceptor for the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Master of Athletic Training program, mentoring graduate students entering the field. “Brian has demonstrated dedication to mentoring our graduate athletic training students…by providing invaluable guidance and fostering an environment where others feel encouraged to grow and succeed in the profession,” said Dr. Kazuma Akehi, program director.
At Kearney High, Haas extends that mentorship into the classroom by teaching Sports Medicine, which introduces students to athletic training and builds a foundation for future study. He also teaches an Outdoor Pursuits course, partnering with local organizations to connect students with Nebraska’s natural resources.
“Brian’s leadership and forward-thinking have established connections that enable partnerships with organizations such as the Nebraska Game and Parks and other community resources,” Roeder added.
Haas has contributed to the profession beyond Kearney through his involvement with the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association, where he advocates for the role of athletic trainers in rural communities and presents on the implementation of Emergency Action Plans.
Despite his far-reaching impact, Haas remains humble. “I’m just a small cog in the wheel,” he said. “Everybody at our school works hard, and I think that’s why we work so well together.”
It’s that humility, paired with excellence, that has made Brian Haas a model for the profession and a truly Most Valuable Athletic Trainer.
Jessie Fong: A Circle Completed, A Legacy in Motion
When Jessie Fong received the call about being named Training & Conditioning magazine’s Most Valuable College Athletic Trainer, her reaction was genuine and humble: “Honestly, I was very surprised — but super grateful and appreciative.” That response reflects the grounded, athlete-first mindset that defines Fong’s work and makes her such a powerful asset to Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and the collegiate athletic training profession at large.
Fong’s journey began at the University of Connecticut, where she earned her B.S in Athletic Training under giants in the field such as Doug Casa of the Korey Stringer Institute and Bob Howard, UConn’s longtime athletic trainer. Her path has since taken her across several Division I programs in Rhode Island and Connecticut, including Bryant University, Providence College, and Brown University, before coming full circle with her return to CCSU, where she now serves as a full-time certified athletic trainer after a formative graduate internship.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to be back,” she said. “I feel like I can really contribute by giving back, serving the athletes, and mentoring the next generation of athletic trainers.”
That passion for mentorship and development is a recurring theme in Fong’s story. Whether she’s guiding Master’s-level interns, collaborating with colleagues, or adding to her own toolbox of certifications, Fong leads by example. Her résumé includes advanced manual therapy credentials like dry needling and blood flow restriction, as well as certifications in psychological first aid and suicide prevention.
“I’m a naturally curious person,” she explained. “I’m always looking for ways to enhance care and connect athletes to the full spectrum of resources they may need.”
Perhaps most importantly, Fong’s approach centers on the holistic health of student-athletes. She makes a point to ask, “How was your day?” before inquiring about an injury. “Athletes have such complex identities,” she said. “They’re students, teammates, children, and friends. And when an injury happens, it can shake all of that. Building trust starts with seeing them as people first.”
Trust is more than a buzzword in Fong’s practice, it can positively impact clinical outcomes. Athletes not only turn to her for treatment but rely on her presence, her consistency, and her empathy. According to nominator Victoria Druehl of Volt Athletics, “Her athletes trust and LOVE her. A day never goes by that they don’t know she cares for them.”
Fong’s experience navigating high-pressure moments also sets her apart. From respiratory distress to serious orthopedic injuries to incidents involving suicidal ideation, she has learned to remain calm and decisive. “It always comes back to training and communication,” she said. “Practice builds preparation. Staying calm allows me to help direct the right care and support to the athlete and coordinate with EMS, coaches, and staff in the moment.”
After every critical incident, Fong and her colleagues debrief. “We replay the situation. What went well? What can we do better next time? That’s how we grow.”
It’s that continual commitment to improvement, both for herself and her field, that defines Jessie Fong. Her advice to young athletic trainers? Hone your soft skills and be adaptable. “Your hands are important, but your ability to communicate, especially under pressure, makes all the difference,” she said.
As the landscape of collegiate sports evolves, with growing attention to mental health and athlete well-being, Jessie Fong represents the future of athletic training: deeply skilled, endlessly compassionate, and always ready. In her words, “Fear can be healthy. It keeps us on our toes. But with experience, preparation, and heart, we rise to every moment.”
Greg Banks: A Servant Leader with a Gold Medal Touch
It’s never been about the accolades for Greg Banks. Despite holding a World Cup gold medal, decades of clinical experience, and the respect of an entire athletic training community, he remains most energized by something simple: watching an athlete take the field again after injury.
“I tell every athlete I work with, ‘Your first five minutes back in the game, I’ll do everything I can to be there,’” said Banks. “Seeing them come off the field and hearing the crowd cheer — that’s the most rewarding part of my job.”
This selfless, service-first mindset has been a hallmark of Banks’ 35-plus-year career, one that has now earned him Training & Conditioning’s Most Valuable Athletic Trainer of the Year award.
Banks’ journey began in high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served as a student trainer. That experience led him to the College of Charleston, where he studied physical therapy and sports medicine. While he briefly pursued a career in ministry after college, he quickly found a calling that blended faith, servant leadership, and sport in athletic training.
“I saw firsthand how my high school athletic trainer, Eddie Davis, cared for others,” he said. “He taught me what servant leadership really looks like. It’s something I’ve carried with me every day since.”
Over the years, Banks has become a pillar in the Charleston, South Carolina, sports medicine community. He helped grow a local physical therapy and sports performance clinic from two to eight locations, served as a trusted partner for area high schools, and mentored the next generation of athletic trainers and physical therapists through adjunct roles at the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.
At the national level, Banks spent 17 years with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, working major international events like the Olympics and the 2019 World Cup. While the stakes were higher, his approach never changed.
“I’ve always treated high school athletes the same way I treated the pros,” he said. “The injuries are the same. The emotions are the same. The job is to care for the person first.”
That people-first mentality extends to his daily work. Banks is known for his “question of the day” routine — a way to connect with athletes beyond their physical needs. “It tells them I care about who they are, not just what they do,” he said.
His career has not been without sacrifice. National team commitments once kept him away for more than half the year, forcing hard compromises with his family. But even those moments were approached with intention. When he missed his son’s state championship soccer game, they struck a deal: “You win your championship, and I’ll win mine.” His son delivered — and so did Banks, bringing home World Cup gold.
Whether it’s sideline triage, long-haul recovery, or mentoring the next generation, Banks continues to influence his profession at every level. He’s concerned about the evolving challenges athletic trainers face — particularly the loss of autonomy in clinical settings and threats to job security in tactical environments like the military — but remains hopeful.
“People see the letters ‘ATC’ and think we only tape ankles,” he said. “But we have the tools to be leaders in so many spaces, from return to play to strength and conditioning to tactical care. We just have to keep showing our value.”
For Greg Banks, showing that value has never been about the spotlight, it’s been about showing up. Whether that’s for an elite athlete at the World Cup or a high school senior returning from an injury.
“That’s what this job is about — seeing them return, hearing the cheers, and knowing they made it,” he said.
That simple, steadfast commitment to people over prestige has defined Banks’ 35-year career. His legacy isn’t just measured in gold medals or clinic expansions, but in trust earned, mentorship given, and lives changed.
